Jack Roecks

Jack L. Roecks Passed away Feb 18 at age 82 after a long battle with cancer. He will be greatly missed by all who knew his boundless spirit and incredible sense of humor. Jack enjoyed teaching and liked working with people of all ages, helping them develop skills, and showing them his world. One of seven children, he was born Dec 19, 1928, on his parents' farm near Fairfield, WA. Jack earned his BA in art at Washington State University, where he met and married his wife Carol. After graduation, they moved to San Francisco, where Jack worked in the interior design field. After earning a degree in education at San Francisco State University, he taught in San Francisco high schools for 30 years, beginning at Continuation High School, Polytechnic, and the last 20 years at Lincoln. At the same time, he taught lapidary and jewelry in SF's Community College system, and each year led many rock collecting and geology field trips to the 10 western states and British Columbia Jack was an accomplished craftsman and designer, working in many disciplines: jewelry, sculpture, stone masonry, woodworking, and metalworking. He designed and built a week end home at Bolinas using materials salvaged from gold rush mansions and embellished with his own work in stone, metal and wood. The family home in Mill Valley also incorporates many unique features of his design. Jack loved to travel. Through the years, he went to over 40 countries, and also studied at the Asian Institute of Gemology in Bangkok. He shared these experiences with the classes he taught. After he retired in 1988, he rejoined the SF Gem & Mineral Society, serving many years as a lapidary and jewelry instructor. Family was very important to him. He spent much time with his wife and three children at Bolinas and on vacation trips that included visits to family in the Northwest and Canada. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Carol; daughter Althea Lawhead, Myrtle Creek, OR; son David Roecks, San Carlos; six grandchildren; one great grandson; sisters Rowena Jones,Wasa, British Columbia and Glenna Bare, Roseburg, OR; brothers Luther Roecks, Worley, ID, Carl Roecks, Fallbrook, CA and Duane Roecks, Glenoma, WA; numerous nieces. nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by daughter Sandra Shepherd and a brother, Ellsworth Roecks. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm, March 21 at Fernwood Funeral Home, 301 Tennessee Valley Rd, Mill Valley. In lieu of flowers, Jack would have appreciated donations to The Salvation Army, Hospice by the Bay, or the donor's favorite charity.